Try Fed Ex, how do you have the box labeled and what did you tell them? I simply box everything up, print my shipping label online via my account and drop it off. No questions asked. If they ask why the box is marked fragile I tell them it's a piece of art and it's double boxed with packing material, never an issue though as I've only been asked once.

My second spot was not UPS and has a special shipping arrangement for Beer and wine through a wine shipping company online (not available directly). Pretty sure that they will treat it right! And now I know where to go.

"gifts" is my standard answer, but I haven't been asked this is years, because I have a FedEx account, print my own label, and drop it off with a wave. No talking.

friends who have worked with both major shipping companies have told me they considered "fragile" and "handle with care" to be a challenge, thus unless the box I'm using already had this marked on it, I don't bother.

"gifts" is my standard answer, but I haven't been asked this is years, because I have a FedEx account, print my own label, and drop it off with a wave. No talking.

friends who have worked with both major shipping companies have told me they considered "fragile" and "handle with care" to be a challenge, thus unless the box I'm using already had this marked on it, I don't bother.

Can't remember who to credit for this one, but my favorite and most truthful response is "yeast samples".

"gifts" is my standard answer, but I haven't been asked this is years, because I have a FedEx account, print my own label, and drop it off with a wave. No talking.

friends who have worked with both major shipping companies have told me they considered "fragile" and "handle with care" to be a challenge, thus unless the box I'm using already had this marked on it, I don't bother.

Can't remember who to credit for this one, but my favorite and most truthful response is "yeast samples".

Except there have been many reports that they're on to that. I say "gifts".

Yeah it's tough when you're shipping to a beer supply store to say you're sending flowers or something. I'm sending mine to Northern Brewer... I did last year too. I just told them that I was returning a beaker. I'm planning on that again Monday when I ship thus years.

"gifts" is my standard answer, but I haven't been asked this is years, because I have a FedEx account, print my own label, and drop it off with a wave. No talking.

friends who have worked with both major shipping companies have told me they considered "fragile" and "handle with care" to be a challenge, thus unless the box I'm using already had this marked on it, I don't bother.

Can't remember who to credit for this one, but my favorite and most truthful response is "yeast samples".

Except there have been many reports that they're on to that. I say "gifts".

Good to know.Fortunately, this year two of our LHBS are transporting entries to the Seattle site. Awesome service.

I ship via FedEx through my work. We get a really great price and FedEx just shows up and takes the packages. I have been to the store before and when they ask if it is liquids or anything I just say no. The person at the store doesn't really care. I package it well enough that I haven't had issues with broken glass.

The July/August issue of Zymurgy had a real good letter entitled "Homebrew Shipping Woes". This is one the the issues that AHA is working on. Does anyone know how much progress has been made?BTW, I usually say I am returning plant items or I am shipping root beer. But, I like the Fedex suggestion and will pass that along to our club. I am sick and tired of lying about it.

I'm sure the reason for the policies is all of the laws that surround alcohol. This state can't get this, that state won't allow that. Yada Yada Yada. When Ups or fedex do knowingly ship alcohol, such as a wine club, they do require an adult over 21 signature and cannot leave the package.

I'm pretty sure this is an issue that the AHA is working on right now. The USPS is discussing changing the rules around them shipping alcohol and while it's only for commercial purposes right now that's a foot in the door. It's certainly something I'd hope to help with if I am elected.

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

They make most the money shipping for large companies. Our $10-20 two or three times a year is drops in the bucket. Extra training to accept an deliver alcohol would likely cost more than it is worth to them.

I'm lucky that my drop off point is only about an hour drive from me, so for round one, I'm making the road trip. It will probably cost me more in gas, but at least I know they'll get there safely. Plus, it gives my beer a few more days in optimal conditions at my house instead of laying in a warehouse. I'll figure out round 2, if I get through round 1.

The July/August issue of Zymurgy had a real good letter entitled "Homebrew Shipping Woes". This is one the the issues that AHA is working on. Does anyone know how much progress has been made?

I don't know a lot and I'm at liberty to say even less, but I assure that the AHA continues to work on shipping from several different approaches. But when you deal with governmental regulations, it's slow going.

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

The AHA tried to convince several shipping companies of that. They all said that there wasn't enough money in it to make it worth their while. That may seem absurd to us, but they have a different idea of "worth it".

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

They make most the money shipping for large companies. Our $10-20 two or three times a year is drops in the bucket. Extra training to accept an deliver alcohol would likely cost more than it is worth to them.

Right. I didn't mean to say that they are in fact losing money by not taking our business. But the ability to make a profit would certainly drive their decision. So perhaps what we're learning is that the regulatory framework for shipping homebrew as is it is makes it a prohibitive venture for the freight companies. It appears the AHA is focusing on the regulatory aspect. Seems a daunting task regarding national competition, with much of the red tape at the state level.

Right. I didn't mean to say that they are in fact losing money by not taking our business. But the ability to make a profit would certainly drive their decision. So perhaps what we're learning is that the regulatory framework for shipping homebrew as is it is makes it a prohibitive venture for the freight companies. It appears the AHA is focusing on the regulatory aspect. Seems a daunting task regarding national competition, with much of the red tape at the state level.

My understanding is that there's not enough volume/money on shipping homebrew to make it worth it to them. Which is why the AHA is concentrating on the regulations.

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

The AHA tried to convince several shipping companies of that. They all said that there wasn't enough money in it to make it worth their while. That may seem absurd to us, but they have a different idea of "worth it".

In my experience UPS seems to treat this as a don't ask don't tell type of situation. I ship to competitions all the time, I pay online and drop off at the UPS service center and have never been asked about the contents.

Last year I got the dreaded email from UPS saying that my package had been damaged and was being returned. When it arrived back to me I noticed there was one bottle missing that had obviously broken. What was interesting was they completely repackaged the remaining bottles, bagged them and placed them in a new box. They also included some packaging guidelines that suggested using enough packing material to keep the bottles at least 2 inches apart. It was obviously beer in the bottles but they did not mention that or provide any type of scolding that you might expect for violating their policy.

I'm thinking they have the policy in place simply to limit their liability exposure in case alcohol was shipped to a minor.

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

The AHA tried to convince several shipping companies of that. They all said that there wasn't enough money in it to make it worth their while. That may seem absurd to us, but they have a different idea of "worth it".

is this because of the expense of the assumed liability or something else because I'm pretty sure that they make money on everything they ship regardless of one large account or one persons package. I know that every package I drop off I get a really nice thank you and a smile to boot!

I agree, but how do you force a private company to do something they don't want to?

I shipped my glass yesterday. Next year I think I'll just make a road trip and deliver it myself. Though delivering round two in person may not be practical, probably not needed either though... ;-)

Demonstrate that they're losing money.

The AHA tried to convince several shipping companies of that. They all said that there wasn't enough money in it to make it worth their while. That may seem absurd to us, but they have a different idea of "worth it".

is this because of the expense of the assumed liability or something else because I'm pretty sure that they make money on everything they ship regardless of one large account or one persons package. I know that every package I drop off I get a really nice thank you and a smile to boot!

I'm wondering the same thing. It would be interesting to know what it is specifically that makes the delivery of homebrew not "worth their while". If that's the case why do any individual shipments? Seems to me that liability could reasonably be placed on the sender if the concern is underage receipt. What about an exemption for non-commercial shipment? Sorry, just thinking out the keyboard while sampling BDSA. Probably not the best path to a good solution.

I think a large part of it is the liability. Various laws, interstate transport, delivery to minors, would the people that accept the package need to be 18 or 21, must be some of their concerns. My guess is it is easier to not deal with it and only work with registered shippers.

is this because of the expense of the assumed liability or something else because I'm pretty sure that they make money on everything they ship regardless of one large account or one persons package. I know that every package I drop off I get a really nice thank you and a smile to boot!

My understanding is that there simply aren't enough homebrewers to make it worth their while to change what they're doing now. Beyond that, I know nothing.

I'm driving a bunch of entires for myself and others to the Chicago and Minneapolis locations this weekend... Chicago ones should be dropped off Friday and MN ones Sat. Planned the trip to MN so we could enter Chicago as primary and MN as secondary so either way we would be dropping them off :D

A guy in our club is hauling entries to Zanesville this weekend. He has family there.

We hauled club entries, and for some other brewers to Indy when first round was there. I have family there.

Yeah I remember... that was the year I was screwed and my entries were deleted lol.

Can you explain that? Can't remember. Konrad and Phil did well if IIRC.

Registration opened the same day as the WEB Judging. I got in registered some entries on that Friday. Went to judge Sat and Sun. Got home Sunday evening and my entries were all deleted and the competition was full. I was sad lol. There were postings saying you had 1 day to pay for your entries but I never noticed them. 1 Day was a bit slim I thought.

Just sign up for a FedEx account. Its free to set up and it cuts out any interaction with an employee who might decide to ask you a question. Print your label, package it up and drop off at FedEx...no questions asked. Not sure why doing it this way hasn't caught on since it is so simple.

I "finalized" one entry. Pouring 5 ciders and meads now to rank and get one spot.Tomorrow should be fun; 10 beers to pick 1. My Shockers are just waiting for Sunday and my Dawgs kinda suck so perhaps I'll run it as a tourney. ;DThursday the voices in my head will pick between the runners up from tonight and tomorrow for the final spot. Hand-delivering for the Wichita gang on Sunday.

...at least now I know the limit won't be any higher than this next year. Can cut the brewing efforts waaaay down.

I "finalized" one entry. Pouring 5 ciders and meads now to rank and get one spot.Tomorrow should be fun; 10 beers to pick 1. My Shockers are just waiting for Sunday and my Dawgs kinda suck so perhaps I'll run it as a tourney. ;DThursday the voices in my head will pick between the runners up from tonight and tomorrow for the final spot. Hand-delivering for the Wichita gang on Sunday.

...at least now I know the limit won't be any higher than this next year. Can cut the brewing efforts waaaay down.

good luck to everyone!--Michael

I'm in a similar situation. 15 beers to choose from... so far I know 1 mead is getting entered... 4 other meads to choose from as well... decisions decisions... I also still need to bottle 3 of them tomorrow night... sigh...

I got mine shipped off to Seattle today. I printed the label at home. No questions asked.

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Same here. Just shipped out to 2 different competitions. Don't ask don't tell. FYI you can set up a UPS account without using a credit card and it makes the process smoother online. They will bill you at the end of the month.